Hills Creek State Park, a Pennsylvania State Park

USA

Pennsylvania

Hills Creek State Park

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State Park Link:
Hills Creek State Park

Nearby Parks:
Leonard Harrison State Park

State Park Contact Information:
	Hills Creek State Park 111 Spillway Road Wellsboro, Pennsylvania 16901 Phone: 570-724-4246 Toll Free: 888-727-2757 Reservations: 888-727-2757 Email: hillscreeksp@state.pa.us	Area Accommodations
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State Park Overview:

Located in scenic Tioga County, the 407-acre Hills Creek State Park abounds in wildlife. Osprey, loon and waterfowl visit the lake that boasts a variety of warm-water fish species. Camping, cabins, swimming beach and picnicking make this an ideal spot for a family vacation.

Nature of the Area:

Wildlife abounds in and around Hills Creek State Park. Along with an active beaver colony, there are other water-loving creatures including muskrat, wood duck, great blue heron, and osprey. Bald eagles are frequent visitors to the park.

Visitors may see a transient black bear, a flock of wild turkey, or a deer. Hills Creek is also a perfect habitat for rabbits, grouse, pileated woodpeckers and woodchucks.

In the spring, Hills Creek Lake becomes home to migrating waterfowl like loon, bufflehead, and common merganser.

Reviews By Park Visitors:

visitor rating:

(2 votes) |Post Your Own Review

The Best Place 2 Get Away

Everything is so wonderful there. Its a nice place to take your family and to get away. we go there every year, it only takes us an hour to get there we come from Montgomery Pa. We look forward to coming every summer!

Written by Bowers 1-Aug-2008

Nice campground

Nice comfortable campground. Mix of shaded and open sites. Numerous sites that can handle long camping rigs. We will be visiting there again.

Written by Calaman 9-Jan-2009

Camping:

Camping: modern sites, some with electricityThe 102-site camping area is at the north end of the park and is reached by the main park road. The campsites range from grassy open areas to sites dominated by immense hemlock trees. The campground opens the second Friday in April and closes the third weekend in October.

Modern washhouses with warm showers, restrooms, and water fountains are in central locations throughout the camping area. A sanitary dump station is just outside the camping area. Six sites are accessible.

Camping Cottages: Three cottages sleep five people in single bunks and double/single bunks, and have wooden floors, windows, electric heat porch, picnic table, fire ring and electric lights and outlets.

Organized Group Tenting:

Qualified adult and youth groups may use this 40-person capacity area equipped with picnic tables, pavilion, fire rings, water and flush toilets. Campers may shower in the campground. This wooded peninsula is open from the second Friday in April to the third Sunday in October, weather permitting. Advance reservations are recommended. This area is rustic in nature and as a result, no vehicles are permitted in the camping area. Some of the larger hemlock, beech, maple and ash trees in the park are found on this very picturesque peninsula.

Trails:

Hiking: 5 miles of trails

Lake Side Trail - 1.5-mile - This trail begins at the entrance to the camping area and follows the lakeshore in a westerly direction for about one mile, finally arriving at the Beaver Hut Boating Area. A beaver house plus many signs of beaver activity may be seen in this area. From the boating area the trail generally follows the lakeshore in a southerly direction for about one mile, ending at the dam breast of Hills Creek Lake. This section of the trail offers an excellent variety of bird life attracted by seeds from white spruce, red-osier dogwood and viburnums that dominate this moist area. The trail then follows the park road past Picnic Area No. 1 and the park office. It ends at a parking lot beyond the gate on the main entrance road, a distance of about 0.5-mile.

Tauschers Trail - 1.5-mile - This trail circles the northeast section of the park from the cabin area. It winds through pine plantations, dense stands of alder and fields containing numerous wildflowers. Wildlife abounds in this section of the park and it is not uncommon to startle deer or grouse along the trail.

Yellow Birch Trail - 1-mile - This trail starts at the entrance to the camping area but travels in an easterly direction for about one mile. Although short in length, this trail leads through a diversity of forest habitats from stands of hardwoods to hemlock swamps and marsh areas. The observant hiker may see a variety of wildlife and animal signs along with interesting tree development.

Picnicking:

There are two picnic areas and three reservable picnic pavilions. Picnic Area No. 1 is at the south end of the lake near the breast of the dam. Picnic Area No. 2 is just north of the swimming beach along a large cove of the lake.

The picnic areas have picnic tables, charcoal grills or fireplaces, picnic pavilion, charcoal disposal units, centrally located drinking fountains and modern comfort stations. The picnic areas are open year-round, but all other day use facilities are closed. Picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Boating:

Boating: electric motors only

The 137-acre Hills Creek Lake has three boat mooring areas with a total capacity of 30 boats. Two of these areas also double as boat launching areas with concrete launching ramps. Sailboating is quite popular. Rowboats, paddleboats, kayaks and canoes may be rented from the boat rental, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, weather permitting.

Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Swimming:

A sand beach is open from late-May to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset. Swim at your own risk. The sandy lake bottom and grass beach are quite popular. The modern bathhouse, and snackbar/boat rental are nearby and open seasonally.

Fishing and Hunting:

Fishing:

The warm waters of the 137-acre Hills Creek Lake provide excellent fishing for warm-water species. Common fish are muskellunge, walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and yellow perch. This lake is on the Bass Masters Tournament Rotation. Largemouth Bass weighing over eight pounds have been pulled from the lake. A valid PA fishing license is required. All Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.

Ice Fishing:

Ice fishing success in the 137-acre Hills Creek Lake is exceptional for yellow perch and bluegill and an occasional walleye. Be safety conscious when on the ice.

Hunting:

With the abundance of both large and small game in the area and the additional bonus of 13,000 acres of rugged State Game Land 37 within walking distance of the park, it is easy to understand why hunting and trapping are popular around the park. Hills Creek State Park is closed to hunting because of its small size, but there is an abundance of nearby private and public lands available for this popular sport.

History of the Area:

The land, originally known as Kelly?s Swamp, was purchased in 1950. Within this swamp, at the present location of the swimming beach, was a small mine from which pigment for the paint industry was extracted. The park opened in 1953 and is named for the creek that runs through it. The stream was named after Captain William Hill who settled in the area around 1820.

Area Accommodations

Campgrounds

Holiday Hill Campground - Springwater, NY
Holiday Hill Campground, located just 40 miles south of Rochester, in the western Finger Lakes Region of NY, has what you?ve been looking for. At Holiday Hill you can enjoy great camping and also visit nearby attractions such as Widmer Winery and other attractions nearby.
Web Site: http://www.holidayhillcampground.com/index.htm

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